Mature Regionalism and the Rose Hall Declaration on Regional Governance

• Author: Havelock R. Brewster
• Pages: 88-93

88 NEW CONCEPTIONS OF REGIONAL GOVERNANCE

Abstract:

The CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) was adopted 14

years ago but very little has actually been implemented. The core of

the problem resides in the fact that the Treaty of Chaguaramas is

based on the intergovernmental mode of cooperation and thus its

provisions are subject to the discretions of national sovereignty. But

the experience of the European Union illustrates that supranational

decision-making can accelerate the process of integration in chosen

policy domains; that sovereignty is a dynamic concept, divisive, and

customizable according to the needs and desires of the participating

States. Intergovernmentalism and supranationalism are reconcilable.

A CARICOM Commission can function effectively only if the

Community itself, with the Conference of Heads of Government at its

apex, is constitutionally empowered by the member states to make

decisions, to legislate, and to implement decisions. Such a process

would necessitate changes to the Treaty of Chaguaramas, and

amendments to the relevant laws of the individual member states. A

Commission without such powers expressly delegated to it by the

member states in respect of specific agreed policy domains can merely

perform a facilitating role through persuasion and wisemen brokerage.

In such a case, it is likely to be little more than an expensive duplication

of the CARICOM Organs; a Commission in little else but name.

The principle of automatic resource transfers for financing the

Community’s institutions is a timely and needed advance toward

mature regionalism, especially in view of the large number of new

regional institutions to be established as a consequence of the CSME

and the Rose Hall Declaration. It will be a real test of the commitment

to deepen regional integration. Each CARICOM citizen has a stake in

the success of the Community, and this could find expression in a

direct contribution by each gainfully employed citizen. This would

also help to make the regional institutions more transparent and

accountable to the public. If the average contribution (excluding Haiti

and Suriname) were an average of only one dollar a month, this

would quadruple the resources of the CARICOM Secretariat.

MATURE REGIONALISM AND THEMATURE REGIONALISM AND THE

MATURE REGIONALISM AND THEMATURE REGIONALISM AND THE

MATURE REGIONALISM AND THE

ROSE HALL DECLARATION ONROSE HALL DECLARATION ON

ROSE HALL DECLARATION ONROSE HALL DECLARATION ON

ROSE HALL DECLARATION ON

REGIONAL GOVERNANCEREGIONAL GOVERNANCE

REGIONAL GOVERNANCEREGIONAL GOVERNANCE

REGIONAL GOVERNANCE

Havelock R. Brewster

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